Tucker, R-Algiers, said the cuts are needed to offset a $77 million revenue shortfall recognized last week, and to comply with a new rule limiting the amount of "one-time" money that can be spent on ongoing expenses.

The speaker could not say exactly how much would be cut, or where the reductions would be made. Those details were still being worked out late Tuesday, he said.

Wherever the cuts are made, they are likely to provoke new pushback from the Jindal administration, which reacted with alarm after the House Appropriations Committee voted to cut spending by $139 million below the levels recommended by the governor.

Administration officials have said the cuts would force the closures of five state prisons, reduce inspections of hospitals and nursing homes and compromise the state's ability to help parishes with emergency response.

Tucker accused the administration of exaggerating the effect of the cuts, which amount to about 1.7 percent of the state general fund but would reduce some agencies by up to 5 percent.

"There isn't a household in this state that hasn't faced a 5 percent cut during the recession," Tucker said. "Government is going to have to deal with it."

The full House is scheduled to take up the main budget bill -- House Bill 1 by Rep. Jim Fannin, D-Jonesboro -- Wednesday afternoon, along with several companion spending bills. The debate is expected to take up the rest of the day, and a vote might not come until Thursday.